How to Organize your Garage

It’s gotten filthy with gravel, dirt and mud from the winter, you have things thrown in random places from rushed days and now you’re searching for your lawn & garden tools.

It’s time! May long weekend has passed with rainy poor weather as usual (anyone else just cuddle up and watch movies?) and typically Calgary clears up around this time. Here are our top tips for an organized garage to make it functional!

garage organization

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How to organize your garage:

  1. Empty it all out! And we mean take EVERYTHING out! While you declutter, place items in categories - garden tools, winter gear, sporting gear, Christmas, etc.

  2. Figure out what needs to be trashed, donated or sold

  3. Assess what needs to go back into the garage and space plan where items can go. Place it back into categories. Ie: keep all the tools together, anything in totes together, etc.

  4. Lastly consider the below list of products that can really help keep your garage organized long term

Tool organization

Here’s a list of products we recommend that help maintain organization and function

calgary home organization
  • Look up! Utilize the height

    • Hanging shelves that attach into the ceiling to store Christmas trees, summer patio cushions, paint cans, etc. (Canadian Tire has a wonderful option for $109.99)

    • Don’t leave your winter tires laying around. A tire rack really frees up the floor of your garage which makes a big impact!

  • Wall mounted slat racking (Here’s an option that we have in our garage)

    • This is SO worth the investment! You can customize the hooks to fit your needs. You can hang bike helmets, extra cables, shovels, camping chairs….the options are endless!

  • Garden tool rack - keep rakes and brooms off the ground with this easy to install option It’s so nice not having a rake fall over on your head when searching for something else (we know this has happened to every adult at least once in their life!)

  • Have lots of sporting equipment?

  • Shelves - you can never have enough shelving in a garage! Totes and bins fit perfectly on these styles

  • Tool organization - now this one can go 2 ways! Some people like to keep their tools in a shed or basement storage room while others like to keep their tools in the garage. Either way you prefer these are our favourite option to store tools

    • Have lots of screws and bolts? Add some labels to each of these bins and you’ve never been more organized!

  • Hooks, hooks and more hooks……we really cant have enough! There are so many types and styles now that you can really customize your garage and what you need to hang. Think garden hoses, extension cords, winter shovels, reusable grocery bags, garden tools, etc.

  • Lastly, here’s our favourite totes to use in the garage because they hold up for YEARS - the classic Rubbermaid bins!

If you find yourself overwhelmed - just hire Sparx Organizing to get the job done for you!

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What Makes an Organized Junk Drawer?!

As a Home Organizer I see a LOT of junk drawers! Or as I like to call them…Essential Drawers!

What items make up the perfect Essentials drawer? Read below to find out!

First Step is PURGE, PURGE, PURGE! Decluttering your space whether it being a bathroom, toy room or a junk drawer is to trash or donate the items you no longer need! Than sort items into categories….ie:

  • Electronics

  • Personal

  • Writing

  • Home Improvement, etc.

Second Step is Drawer Organizers! Making sure every item has a home and a place to return to after you have used it is KEY to maintaining an organized system. These drawer organizers are perfect to house pens, pencils, loose coins, hair elastics, etc.

Junk drawer organization

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Third Step! Don’t be afraid to add individual small organizers within one large to help contain smaller items so they don’t roll around or hide under notepads!

Fourth Step! Step back and admire your newly organized Essential Drawer!

Pro Tip: Here’s a list of practical items that are beneficial to have in any kitchen:

  1. Tape

  2. Pens/Pencils

  3. Pad of Paper

  4. Mabel’s Labels (use code SPARX to save 10% at Checkout!)

  5. Hair Ties/Bows & Comb

  6. Lip Balm

  7. Nail Clippers/Nail File

  8. Headphones

  9. Batteries

  10. Multipurpose Screw Driver

  11. Tape Measure

  12. Money - this one might seem odd but think of local kids sports groups raising funds for their teams

Christmas Gift Wrap Organization

The stockings are hung, the tree is lite and you’ve baked your grandma’s famous shortbread! Now what?!

Well it’s time to wrap those presents! Here are my top 3 ways I love to organize gift wrap and all the supplies that come with it! *This post contains affiliate links

  1. Behind the door storage and the IKEA Variera plastic bag holder

    Save space by utilizing hanging storage behind a closet door for tucking your gift bags. Name tags and tissue paper can be fairly flat therefore not taking up too much space! The plastic bag holder from IKEA is my favourite hack to hold wrapping paper rolls!

  2. Thin long container

    This is my go to when it comes to gift wrapping supplies! Put all your paper, tissue paper, ribbons, bows, etc. all in one slim tote! Place the smaller items into a large Ziploc bag to keep them contained within the container and store with storage or under your bed!

  3. Utility Cart

    It has wheels! You can move this gift wrapping station in and out of a closet or mudroom so easily! Add separate bins and baskets to hold all your items - one for bows, one for scissors & tape, etc. I love this option because everything can be seen at a glance and easy to grab from both sides!

Happy wrapping & Happy Holidays!

How to Rotate your Home with the Seasons

We’ve finally entered sweater season!

I love transition seasons - for some reason everyone around me has this rejuvenating energy to get things done! It's mowing the lawn one last time, purging your kids clothes they have outgrown and making stews from locally grown veggies!

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So with that being said here are a few tips for switching over your home for the colder season:

  • Rotate your summer jackets for fall & winter

    • Do you really need ALL you jackets hung up all year round? Probably not! Wash, fold and tuck away all summer coats into a heavy duty bin or Ziploc Space Bags to keep bugs out and store in your garage or storage

  • Tuck away your sandals & flip flops

    • Same thing - store those away in a great bin and tuck it away with storage

  • Clean and store all your kids outdoor summer toys

  • Make sure your racks, garden hoses, etc have been properly stored and hung

  • Rotate your wardrobe and pack away summer items to free up some closet space

  • Clean our your car - yes you just read that correctly!

    • Vacuum up those Goldfish crackers, empty out your trunk and get that console tidy!

Tackle one area at a time - never overwhelm yourself by taking on too much in a short period of time!

Happy Fall Organizing my friends - as always if you feel overwhelmed you know where to find me!